Bag with sealing device and collar for disposing of waste

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a disposable waste container for us in ambulances, planes, sick bays, hospitals, or in other environments where contamination is a risk. The container comprises a bag of appropriate material and a collar extending around the opening of the bag which may serve itself as part of the sealing mechanism. Also the sidewalls of the bag may extend over and under the collar. This invention was designed to contain bodily fluids or human waste in a more hygienic manner over the prior art.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a waste collection containers and in particular to containers which collect human excrement such as vomit, urine and/or faeces in temporary holding devices before permanent disposal. Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to this application; however, it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted this particular field of use.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This document is subject to copyright. The reproduction, communication and distribution of this document is not permitted without prior consent from the copyright owner, other than as permitted under section 226 of the Patents Act 1990.

PROBLEMS OF THE PRIOR ART

Known waste containers include vomit bags, urine bottles and bed pans. All known waste containers described below share the following common shortcomings; therefore, the shortcomings will be described with regard to vomit bags by way of example but are inclusive of all excrement (vomit, urine and faeces) collection devices.

Common methods used to capture vomit in crowded and confined environments such as hospitals, clinics, transportation vehicles such as aeroplanes, and sporting environments include the following:

-   -   1. Disposable bags, such as plastic and paper bags, suffer the         disadvantage that they are not able to be sealed reversibly,         quickly or efficiently to provide a leak-proof and odourless         containment.     -   2. Dishes, such as kidney shaped dishes, suffer the disadvantage         that they are prone to spillage, particularly if the individual         is heaving during the vomiting and does not limit the odour or         seal the waste from the environment.

The smell of vomit can trigger vomiting in people located in the immediate surrounds. Vomit waste needs to be disposed of cleanly and quickly, without contaminating the environment.

Patented vomit/waste collection devices typically have the following problems:

-   -   1. the collection device lacks a means for sealing the         collection bag or dish as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,990,145 and         7,029,463 and US Patent Application 20030116575;     -   2. the collection device is too large and bulky for use in         crowded locations as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,332,         5,822,806; or     -   3. the collection device requires the addition of sealing means         to be added independently to the collection means as shown in         U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,277, which involves an enclosable bag being         laid within a waste collection kidney dish.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,039 is a commonly known vomit/waste collection system with an annular neck. In practice this only partially seals the waste bag at the neck of the bag, leaving the contaminated mouth of the bag exterior to the sealing join and consequently exposed to contaminate the surrounding environment. The content of the vomit/waste bag in practice seals at a point that leaves a section of the vomit/waste bag unsealed. Further, the sealing device is prone to leakage and is not air tight.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide disposable Waste Containers for use in ambulances, planes, sick bays, hospitals, or in other environments where contamination is a risk. The invention can sealingly contain vomit and/or other human waste in a more hygienic manner than the prior art commonly used. The Waste Container is enabled to minimise contamination of the surrounding air and physical environment by:

-   -   1. sealing all contaminated waste within the container; and     -   2. decreasing the risk of leakage of waste from the container.

A further object of the present invention is to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to the invention, there is provided a Waste Container for receiving excrement including:

-   -   a) a Waste Collection Bag having a closed bottom and an open top         with sidewalls extending from said bottom and terminating in         said top defining an opening;     -   b) a sealing means located on said upper portion of said         sidewalls substantially near to said Bag's said top, such that         said open top can be closed with sealing engagement of said         sidewalls so as to sealingly enclose excrement within said Bag;         and     -   c) a Collar extending around the upper portion of said sidewalls         of said Waste Collection Bag;     -   such that said sidewalls are enabled to:         -   I. pass through and over said Collar; and         -   II. fold back under said Collar,     -   to house said upper portion of said sidewalls and said top of         said Waste Collection Bag.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a Waste Container for receiving excrement including:

-   -   a) a Waste Collection Bag having:         -   i. a closed bottom;         -   ii. an open top, wherein said top defines an opening; and         -   iii. one or more sidewalls, wherein said sidewall(s)             extend(s) from said bottom and terminate(s) in said top;     -   b) a Collar attached at an upper portion of said sidewall(s),         wherein:         -   i. said Collar includes a closing means;         -   ii. said closing means enables said Waste Collection Bag to             be sealingly closed to prevent leakage of content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commonly used background art Waste Container unsealed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a commonly used background art Waste Container, sealed at the neck of the Waste Container, below the Collar;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating a plastic bag with a zip seal mechanism folded over the Collar and extending past the Collar towards the mid-section of the Waste Container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating the Waste Container's extension tucked under, and held within, the Collar's inner circumference;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating how the Collar has been snapped along breakage perforations to release the Waste Container's extension to expand the Waste Collection Bag;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a used Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating how the Waste Container is sealed at its mouth such that the potentially contaminated inner surface of the Waste Container is sealed within the enclosed locking mechanism, ready for disposal;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the Collar according to the invention, illustrating the breakage perforations of the Collar;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a urine Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating a Waste Collection Bag in the form of a plastic bag with a zip seal mechanism inserted into a urine Waste Container with the Waste Collection Bag

1) extruding from the Waste Container's spout; and 2) folded back over the Collar of the Waste Container's spout towards the mid-section of the urine Waste Container;

FIG. 9 is a second perspective view of a urine Waste Container according to the invention, illustrating at a more oblique angle with an inserted Waste Container such that the walls of the Waste Collection Bag are

1) adjacent to the Waste Container's neck and spout; and 2) folded back over the Collar towards the mid-section of the urine Waste Container;

FIG. 10 illustrates perspective views of:

-   -   1. a urine Waste Container from which the inner plastic bag,         shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has been removed (along with any         captured waste) such that the Waste Container is ready for         re-insertion of a new Waste Collection Bag; and     -   2. a used urine Waste Collection Bag according to the invention,         illustrating how the Waste Collection Bag is sealed at its mouth         such that the potentially contaminated inner surface of the         Waste Collection Bag is sealed within the enclosed locking         mechanism, ready for disposal.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the Collar according to one arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a second perspective view of the Collar according to one arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention, illustrating a locking means on the seat of the Collar; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the Collar according to a second arrangement of the second embodiment of the invention, illustrating the second locking means on the seat of the Collar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by reference to the drawings. The following detailed description in conjunction with the figures provides the skilled addressee with an understanding of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the applications described below.

Dictionary of Defined Terms

Table 1 is a dictionary of terms defined according to the invention. Terms defined in Table 1 are denoted with the use of capitalisation throughout the document. If a term is not capitalised then its plain meaning is to be construed, unless otherwise specified.

TABLE 1 Dictionary of defined terms Term Description Collar A Collar includes and is not limited to a band that surrounds the neck of the Waste Container such that the Waste Container folds back over the band to open the mouth of the Waste Container. The Collar can be a ring or band of a variety of shapes or materials. Waste A Waste Container includes and is not limited to plastic and Container other bags suitable for waste collection, compressible containers, rigid containers and other devices for collecting and storing waste for disposal. Waste A Waste Collection Bag includes and is not limited to plastic Collection and other bags suitable for waste collection, compressible Bag containers and other means of collecting waste that is insertable into a Waste Container.

The elements of the invention are now described under the following headings:

Commonly Used Means for Vomit Collection

Referring to FIG. 1, a commonly known means for waste collection involves a Waste Container 1 in the form of the following:

-   -   1. a Waste Collection Bag 30 (here shown as a plastic bag) with         a base 3 and sidewalls 4 diverging upwardly from the base 3 and         terminating in a top 6 defining an opening, which forms the         Waste Container's open mouth 2. The open mouth 2 is the entry         point for waste, such as vomit, as it is heaved forward into the         Waste Collection Bag 30; and     -   2. a Collar 5 surrounding and terminates at the Waste Collection         Bag's top 6 such that the Waste Container's open mouth 2 is         formed by the Waste Collection Bag's top 6 being held open by         the Collar 5. Both the Collar's top outer rim 20 (the upper edge         of the Collar) and the Waste Collection Bag's top 6 terminate to         form the lips of the Waste Container's 1 open mouth 2.

In known devices for vomit collection, as described above, vomit waste is retained in the Waste Container 1 by means of threading the neck of the Waste Collection Bag 30 sideways through a slot 6 in the Collar 5.

FIG. 2 shows the sealed Waste Container 1 and illustrates how the mouth 2 and upper neck 25 of the Waste Container 1, which are usually contaminated with vomit as it passes/is heaved into the Waste Container 1, are left exposed when the Waste Container 1 is sealed. Further, sealing the bag involves manipulating the neck 15 of the bag 30 through a hook-shaped slot in the Collar (not shown). This only captures the excrement in the of the bag's lower portion 10. This can result in contamination of the environment as it involves twisting the top of the bag through a slot (not shown in this figure) and potentially wiping the waste that is caught around the open mouth 2 and upper neck 25 of the bag onto the user's finger and the Collar's top outer rim 20, and also possibly splashing waste onto the floor/immediate surrounds. Consequently, this known art suffers from ineffective sealing of the waste material within the Waste Container 1.

THE PRESENT INVENTION A First Embodiment

FIG. 3 shows one preferred embodiment in the form of an unused Waste Container 1 according to the invention. The Waste Container 1 is a Waste Collection Bag 30 in the form of an open tubular plastic bag, with the top folded back over the outer rim 20 of the Collar 5 such that a portion of the internal surface of the Waste Collection Bag 30 is exposed and portions of the external surfaces of the Waste Collection Bag 30 partially touch.

The Collar 5 surrounds the neck of the Waste Collection Bag 30. In contrast to the prior art, the Collar 5 in the present invention (as shown in FIG. 3) is not held fixedly in position and can be moved along the tubular bag. This enables the Collar 5 to be moved along the tubular bag beyond the contaminated portion of the open mouth. In other arrangements, the Collar 5 can be removed and/or recycled.

As a result of the top section of the Waste Collection Bag 30 being folded back over the outer rim 20 of the Collar 5:

-   -   1. the inner surface of the Collar 5 is held against the         external surface of the Waste Collection Bag 30; and     -   2. the folding back of the tubular bag results in the formation         of lips 32 at the fold line along the outer rim 20 of the Collar         5.

The sliding arrangement of the Collar 5 enables the lips 32 to be moved towards the open top of the Waste Collection Bag 30, eventually meeting a sealing mechanism 35 located substantially at the uppermost peripheral edge of the Waste Collection Bag 30 (that is, the edge furthest away from the base of the Waste Collection Bag 30 when the Waste Collection Bag 30 is fully extended).

Also shown in FIG. 3 is the Waste Collection Bag's sealing mechanism is a zip lock seal 35 immediately preceding and parallel with the uppermost open end of the Waste Collection Bag 30. Other arrangements may use other sealing means as envisaged by the person skilled within the art.

When closed, the zip lock seal 35 performs the function of closing the mouth of the Waste Collection Bag 30 and thereby sealing any contaminated waste within the Waste Collection Bag 30.

FIG. 4 shows an unused Waste Container 1 in which the open tubular plastic bag, in the form of a Waste Collection Bag 30, folded back over the Collar's 5 and tucked under the Collar's 5 inner rim (the rim or edge of the Collar closest towards the base of the bag) such the Collar 5 is semi-fixedly held in position. This temporarily stops the sliding of the Collar 5 and temporarily fixes the positions of the Waste Container's 1 mouth and lips 32.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the invention, the Collar 5 of the Waste Container 1 has been opened along one or more opening seams 38. Snapping the Collar along its opening seams 38 enables the following:

-   -   1. sealing of the top of Waste Collection Bag 30 by using the         sealing mechanism to close the mouth;     -   2. releasing the Collar 5 so it is no longer fixedly held in         position and can be removed; and     -   3. enabling disposal of the Waste Collection Bag 30 (separately         to the Collar if so required).

Referring to FIG. 6 of the invention, the Waste Container's Collar 5 is shown as detached along its opening seams such that only the Collar's outer rim 20 is in contact with the Waste Collection Bag 30. The lips 32 of the Waste Collection Bag 30 are closed by means of the sealing mechanism, thereby forming a sealed Waste Collection Bag 30.

Referring to FIG. 7 of the invention, a Waste Container's Collar 5 is shown with two opening seams 38. However, the number of opening seams can vary in other arrangements. The opening seam(s) enable(s) the Collar 5 to be snapped open for easy removal from around the neck of the Waste Collection Bag 30.

In a preferred embodiment, an opening seam is located on opposing sides of the Collar 5. The opening seams 38 pass:

-   -   1. from the Collar's internal face 60 through to its external         face 65; and     -   2. from near the outer rim 20 of the Annular Ring 5 towards the         inner rim 40 of the Collar 5.

The only portion of the Collar that remains intact after snapping open the opening seam(s) 38 is an outer ring 70 along the outer rim 20. This opening seam 38 can be formed from perforated materials for single use, or made from reversibly snap locking materials for multiple use.

FIG. 7 shows a radially extending outer ring 70 along the outer rim 20 of the Collar 5. The outer ring 70 in other arrangements can be moulded to act as a handle for the user when the waste collection is in process.

In another embodiment of the invention, the outer ring 70 can be extended further upwards in the direction of the inner rim 40 so that the outer ring 70 acts as alternate housing for an unused Waste Container 1. In this embodiment, the Waste Collection Bag 30 sits hidden passing over the Collar's inner rim where it is tucked adjacent to the Collar's internal face 60, ready for release at the appropriate time.

The snapping of the Collar 5 breaks apart all regions of the Collar 5 except the outer ring 70. In this embodiment, this snapping mechanism is enabled by applying pressure on two opposing points of the Collar as marked on FIG. 7 as Collar pressure point 75 and Collar pressure point 80.

Another embodiment of the invention will now be described where the Waste Container and Waste Collection Bag are separate physical entities that can be combined for use and separated for efficient transport and disposal.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the invention, urine Waste Container 100 is illustrated. A Waste Collection Bag 110 in the form of a plastic bag with a zip seal mechanism is inserted into the urine Waste Container 100 with the Waste Collection Bag 110:

-   -   1. extruding from the Waste Container's spout; and     -   2. folded back over the exterior surface of the Waste         Container's spout towards the handle of the urine Waste         Container 100.

FIG. 9 shows a second perspective view of the urine Waste Container 100 in FIG. 8. The Waste Container 100 is illustrated at a more oblique angle and the Waste Collection Bag 110 can be seen inserted into the urine Waste Container 100 such that the Waste Collection Bag's 100 walls are:

-   -   1. adjacent to the Waste Container's 100 neck and spout; and     -   2. folded back over the Collar towards the mid-section of the         urine Waste Container 100.

FIG. 10 shows the urine Waste Container 100 separated from the Waste Collection Bag 110 also shown as:

-   -   1. a urine Waste Container 100 with the Waste Collection Bag 110         removed (along with any captured waste) such that the Waste         Container 110 is ready for re-insertion of a new Waste         Collection Bag 110; and     -   2. a used urine Waste Collection Bag 110 according to the         invention illustrating how the Waste Collection Bag 110 is         sealed 120 at its mouth such that the potentially contaminated         inner surface of the Waste Collection Bag 110 is sealed within         the enclosed locking mechanism 130, ready for disposal.         -   This figure does not show the Waste Container 100 reversibly             locking seams such that the Waste Container 100 can be             opened and in some embodiments separated into two parts to             lower the Waste Container 100 bulk/volume.

This first embodiment of the invention provides the following advantages:

-   -   1. The Waste Container 100 is not contaminated by waste and         therefore can be recycled and reused. This is an advantage where         the Waste Container 100 is a rigid structure that consumes         considerable space and therefore requires greater storage         resources;     -   2. A used Waste Collection Bag 110 can be disposed of in a waste         collection bin such that the disposed Waste Collection Bag's 110         can be stacked more efficiently to assume the volume of the         waste only, as opposed to a rigid Waste Container 100 (be it         full or empty) which is inefficient in its use of space when         disposed of; and     -   3. An un-used Waste Collection Bag 110 can be transported as a         substantially flat packed article and re-inserted into recycled         Waste Containers 100 as needed.

Consequently relatively fewer rigid Waste Containers 100 are required to collect effectively more waste. Moreover, a space saving is achieved with this combination of rigid Waste Containers 100 with disposable, sealable insertable Waste Collection Bags 110.

A Second Embodiment

FIG. 11 shows a second embodiment of the Collar 5 which surrounds the neck of the Waste Collection Bag (not shown). The Collar includes a seat 100 which extends radially from the neck of the Collar 5. The seat 100 forms a cupping device, which can be placed against the relevant body part (e.g. around the mouth, the urethra or the anus) when the Waste Collection Bag is being used and helps to guide the excrement into the opening of the Waste Collection Bag and thereby to minimise spillage of the contents during the waste collection process. The seat 100 can also function as:

-   -   i. a handle or holding means, for holding the Waste Collection         Bag in a position suitable for the collection of waste (for         example, when being used as a sick bag or a urine bottle); and     -   ii. a support (e.g. for resting the buttocks on when the Waste         Collection Bag is being used as a bed pan);

Referring to FIG. 11, the seat 100 and Collar 5 are represented as an approximately circular shape in one dimension (but could be any symmetrical shape). Two opening seams 38 can be seen at approximately the half way mark on opposing sides of the circle. However, in other arrangements, the number of opening seams can vary.

In all embodiments, the Collar 5 includes a closing means. The closing means includes one or more opening seams, as illustrated in FIG. 11 by the label 38.

By applying pressure at the opening seams 38, the Collar 5 can be forced to snap open along the opening seams 38. This enables one half of the seat 100 to folded over to sit on top of the other half, thereby closing the opening of the Waste Collection Bag, which sits within the Collar 5.

The seat includes one or more fold lines 110, which guide the folding of the Collar 5 along the opening seams 38. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 11, the seat 100 is folded upon itself so that the Collar is substantially symmetrically mirrored along the fold lines to enclose the Waste Collection Bag (not shown) securely between the seat's 100 surfaces. This enables any contaminated waste to be sealed within the Waste Collection Bag (not shown).

The closing means includes a locking means to hold the Collar in a closed position. The locking means can take the form of a variety of fastening devices including a clasp, a clip or a hook. FIG. 11 shows the locking means 120 in the form of a clasp on one region of the seat 100. When the Collar 5 is folded into a closed position, as described above, the clasp engages the edge on the opposite side of the seat 100. This locks the Collar 5 in a closed position and seals the Waste Collection Bag (not shown) closed between the opposing surfaces of the closed Collar.

Once the Waste Collection Bag's opening has been sealed, then disposal of the Waste Container can be performed. The Collar 5 in other arrangements may be separated from the Waste Collection Bag allowing the Collar 5 to be reused if so required.

Other arrangements of the invention will now be described with regard to the Collar, where the Collar and the Waste Collection Bag are separate physical entities that can be combined for various uses, including as a bed pan, urine bottle, sick bag, etcetera.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the Collar 5 in which the closing means includes a raised portion 150 on one part of the seat 100 and a reciprocal well 160 on the part of the seat symmetrically opposite to the raised portion. By folding the Collar 5, the raised portion becomes inserted into the reciprocal well, thereby securely closing the Collar and hence the opening of the Waste Collection Bag.

Once the Collar 5 is securely closed, a locking means is engaged to maintain the Collar in a closed position and the opening of the Waste Collection Bag is sealingly closed. Referring to FIG. 12, a locking means can be seen. A fastening device in the form of a series of protruding tabs 170 on one region of the seat and a series of reciprocal slots 180 for receiving the tabs 170 when the Collar 5 is folded. When the tabs 170 and slots 180 are engaged, the Collar 5 is held securely in a closed position.

FIG. 13 illustrates another arrangement of the locking means. The fastening device takes the form of a series of twin of protruding tabs 190 on one region of the seat and a series of twin reciprocal slots 200 for receiving the twin tabs 190 when the Collar 5 is folded. When the twin tabs 190 and twin slots 200 are engaged, the Collar 5 is held securely in a closed position.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many different other forms. 

1. A Waste Container for receiving excrement including: a) a Waste Collection Bag having a closed bottom and an open top with sidewalls extending from said bottom and terminating in said top defining an opening; b) a sealing means located on said upper portion of said sidewalls substantially near to said Bag's said top, such that said open top can be closed with sealing engagement of said sidewalls so as to sealingly enclose excrement within said Bag; and c) a Collar extending around the upper portion of said sidewalls of said Waste Collection Bag; such that said sidewalls are enabled to: I. pass through and over said Collar; and II. fold back under said Collar, to house said upper portion of said sidewalls and said top of said Waste Collection Bag.
 2. The Waste Container according to claim 1, wherein said Collar includes at least one seam, said seam enabling said Collar to be opened to: a) release said Waste Collection Bag portion housed under said Collar, b) allow said Bag to be partially or fully extended from folded back position, c) free said top of said Waste Collection Bag to allow said Bag to be closed such that excrement is enclosed within the inner portions of said Bag.
 3. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said Collar curves outwardly and back toward said bottom of said Waste Collection Bag such that: a) a handle is formed to hold said Waste Collection Bag; and b) force can be applied on said Collar to snap open along said seam, enabling said Collar to be removed from said Waste Collection Bag.
 4. A Waste Container for receiving excrement including: a) a Waste Collection Bag having: i. a closed bottom; ii. an open top, wherein said top defines an opening; and iii. one or more sidewalls, wherein said sidewall(s) extend(s) from said bottom and terminate(s) in said top; b) a Collar attached at an upper portion of said sidewall(s), wherein: i. said Collar includes a closing means; ii. said closing means enables said Waste Collection Bag to be sealingly closed to prevent leakage of content.
 5. The Waste Container according to claim 4 wherein said Collar includes a seat, wherein said seat forms a cupping device such that said cupping device assists to guide excrement into said opening, when using said Waste Collection Bag.
 6. The Waste Container according to claim 4 wherein said closing means includes at least one seam, wherein said seam enables said opening to be closed.
 7. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said Collar is enabled to be opened along said seam such that said Collar to be closed on itself such that said Waste Collection Bag is sealed by said Collar.
 8. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said closing means includes a locking means to hold said Collar in a closed position.
 9. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said locking means includes one or more fastening devices, wherein said fastening device(s) include(s) a clasp, a clip or a hook.
 10. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said fastening device(s) latch(es) over an edge of said Collar to hold said Collar in a closed position.
 11. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said locking means includes (a) reciprocal slot(s) to receive (a) fastening device(s) such that when said fastening device(s) is (are) engaged with said slot(s), said opening is sealingly closed.
 12. The Waste Container according to claim 1 wherein said closing means includes a raised portion and a reciprocal well, such that when said raised portion is inserted into said well, said opening is closed.
 13. (canceled) 